Pay a single dental bill without dental insurance and you are very likely to find yourself looking for insurance in a hurry. Although most dental policies do not cut a massive amount off the bottom line, they do cut enough to count. Shopping for dental insurance is not the easiest of tasks though. Fortunately, there are some great tips on what to look for, how to look and even where to look for decent dental insurance.

Reasons To Buy Dental Insurance

Since many of us shy away from the notion of paying a dentist a visit, this type of coverage can seem a luxury at best. Take a look at some of the average prices most dentists charge for even the most routine of tasks and its value will become crystal clear. This is especially the case if a throbbing toothache prompts a visit.

According to DentalPlans.com, a typical checkup costs about $40. If you need X-rays, add about $100 to that. If a cleaning is called for, tack on another $75 for an adult or $53 for a child. The costs go up from there, depending on the service needed.

While many dental plans cost a little more than $100 a year for family coverage, the savings they can present adds up. In most cases, you can subtract the visit charge of $40 and even cut the X-ray and cleaning fees by a half and three-quarters, respectively.

When the numbers are examined closely, buying dental insurance adds up to nothing more than dollars and cents.

Types of Plans Available

There are a number of different dental plans available for private purchase. What will work best for you and your family often comes down to a matter of personal choice. The main options include the following:

Indemnity plans. These plans work a lot like regular medical insurance with a percentage split on expenses. You pay out a monthly premium and you might even have a deductible. Once the deductible is met (if there is one), costs are split 80 percent/20 percent between the insurance company and you respectively. The splits can also involve 50/50 or even go up to 100 percent on the insurance company if a set dollar figure has been reached. Dentists available through these kinds of plans tend to vary based on the carrier and the dentists in the area. In some cases, these plans cover any dentist within a set geographical region.

Dental HMOs. These work like medical health maintenance organizations where patients choose a primary care dentist and visit that person for all routine work. The primary care can send a patient to a specialist, but a referral is necessary. The prices on these vary, but they do typically come with a co-pay set up. This means you pay the monthly or yearly premium and a set amount per visit. Specialist appointments tend to cost a little more.

Dental PPOs. In this type of plan, patients can choose their own dentists at will from a set list. When you go to a dentist on the list, a set co-pay or percentage split applies. If you visit a dentist that is not on the list, an extra charge is likely to apply. These plans tend to cost more out of pocket concerning premiums and even at the dentists. Many people prefer them because they eliminate the intermediary when a specialist is needed. The reduction of runaround is often seen as a very big perk.

Dental Discount Plans. These plans function by having patients pay a set monthly or annual premium. When this is paid, patients are free to go to dentists on the plan. They then pay set, agreed upon amounts for different services. These are popular choices since they can cut related expenses by more than 50 percent and they tend to be rather affordable – even for family coverage. In some cases, dental HMOs might operate in a similar fashion with the set prices serving as the "co-pay."

Who Is Eligible For Coverage?Most plans are fairly easy to obtain and just about anyone qualifies for them. If pre-existing conditions are a concern, check and double check with plan providers, but in most cases, there are no restrictions on age or conditions.

How To Shop For PlansPicking a plan is a very personal undertaking. What works best for one family simply may not for another. It is smart to shop around and look for a few things when checking into different policy options, especially if you are buying the insurance independent of an employer. The things to consider include:

Pricing. This, obviously, is a very big deal for most individuals and families. On the upside, dental insurance plans tend to fall in at less than a few hundred dollars a year.

Covered items. This is a very big issue in some cases. If orthodontics are a concern or will be, make sure they are on the plan. Look at the bottom lines and read the fine print. If something is not clear, ask!

Dentists involved. If you do not have a dentist as of yet, this might not matter. If you have a favorite, it is a very good idea to find out what plans he or she takes part in. Ask your dentist directly for recommendations.

Limits on coverage. Some policies cap the coverage at a certain amount on an annual basis or over the course of the coverage's lifetime. Checking into this is smart.

Where To Look For CoverageShopping around for dental coverage is a whole lot easier than you might think. There are plenty of places to look for coverage – whether it turns out as great coverage or mediocre at best will depend on what type of plan you buy and how well you research it. Some of the top places to look for coverage include:

Local insurance agents. Most insurance companies that handle individual health care policies also write dental insurance. At the very least, they tend to have access to discount plans.

Online. A variety of web sites cater directly to people looking to buy dental insurance. It is wise to compare these sites very closely. Some offer different prices even on the same, low cost coverage. - Employers. If you or a significant other has the option for dental coverage at work, these policies often turn out as the best choice financially and coverage wise. Shop and compare though just to have certainty in the decision.

Buying dental insurance is not a difficult task. When the right questions are asked and some good comparison-shopping comes into play, a good policy is fairly easy to find. Taking the time to truly explore the options just makes good sense, especially if finding the best deal on dental insurance is the goal.

Shopping IQ: Do You Use Common Cents?

Are you penny wise or pounds foolish? In this day and age, many of us live beyond our means. We spend frivolously when we could be cutting costs by simply shopping smarter. Do you know the techniques to save here and there? Take this shopping quiz to see if you know how to get the most bang for your buck.